Dispensing top for a container



Sept. 3, 1935. c. A. s. FRANK DISPENSING TOP FOR A CONTAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1955 INVENTOR. Our/s rim 4. S. FRANK ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 nrsransmc 'ror son A comma PATENT OFFICE chi-mam A. s. Frank, Floral Park, N. x.

Application November 15, 1933, SerialNo. 698,092

3 Claims.

} This invention relates to dispensing containers or packages and while not restricted to such use, the invention is primarily designed as a container for tooth powder, the principal objects in view being to avoid waste of the contents and to eliminate the unsanitary practice of dumping a quantity of the powder in the palm of the hand and dipping the bristles of the tooth brush therein.

The invention broadly comprehends in a container, a top structure therefor for dispensing the contents thereof which includes a removable cover and means carried by said top structure for trapping a portion of the contents when the container is inverted and returned to upright position with the cover or lid applied so that an applicator, such as a tooth brush, may be dipped into the trapped contents. More particularly the invention contemplates a top structure for a container body which top structure is provided with a recessed portion defining an upper receiving surface and which recessed portion is formed with one or more passages therethrough communicatneck formed on the top structure which isv equipped with the contents trapping means and a cover or cap removably fitted on the neck and which cover or cap is generally shaped to conform to the contour of the applicator so that the cap or cover may, if desired, be used as a receptacle into which a quantity of the contents is dumped from the container for the purpose of facilitating the application of said contents to the applicator without wasting the contents or contaminating the same by contact with the hands. The invention further resides in a dispensing means for containers of the character set forth which may be inexpensively fashioned from sheet material by a drawing operation or otherwise, thus providing a simple, economical but efficient dispensing package for the purposes set forth.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is made to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which there have been set forth several embodiments of the in- (cnzzl-csi p 'vention, while the claims cover other variations and modifications thereof which fall within their scope.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a collective perspective view of a container having a dispensing top constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating. the cover removed therefrom and in inverted position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, and showing a tooth brush-in juxtaposition thereto.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the container in inverted position and the cap applied to illustrate the manner in which the contents are supplied to the dispensing top.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates the body of the container,

which may be of any desired shape and which includesa top structure fitted over the upper end and designated generally by the reference character B.- The top structure includes an upstanding substantially oblong shaped neck I0 which conforms generally to the contour of the bristle portion C of a tooth brush D or an equivalent applicator, and which neck, in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, has an integral upper end wall I l which is cut and drawn orotherwise fashioned to provide a powder receiving well or trough E recessed below the upper end wall ll, said well or trough E having a concave arcuate upper surface l2 and side passages or slots 13 which establish communication with the interior of the container body A through theneck l0. As shown, the well or trough E has opposite end walls M which extend downwardly from the upper end wall I I. The top structure also includes a cover or lid l5 which may be of any desired type to close the upper end of the neck but which, in the present instance, is in the form of a generally cup-shaped slip cover conforming generally to the contour of 'the neck It and bristle portion C of a tooth brush or other, equivalent applicator.

The well or trough E extends along the middle portion of the top of the upstanding neck l0, and is of less width than the top of the neck,

so that at one or both sides the upper end wall I l presents inturned flange or ledge portions overhanging the top edges of the sides of the well or trough E.

In its principal intended use, the dispensing top of the container is utilized by inverting the same with the cap applied, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the powder or contents F are admitted to the well or trough E through the side passages or slots l3 and when the container is returned to the upright position, a quantity of the powder or contents F is trapped in the well or trough E. When the cover is removed, the bristle portion C of the tooth brush D, preferably in wetted condition, is dipped into the trapped quantity of the powder or contents F to pick up thereon a supply of the powder. Obviously, during the dipping operation any spillage of the powder will find its way back into the container body A through the side pas-- sages or slots l3, due to the fact that the side portions of the upper end wall ll do overhang the top edges of the well or trough, and are thus presented as ledges to prevent spilling of the powder past the passages or slots l3. F

As an alternative method of using the dispensing top, a. quantity of the powder may be dumped into the cover or lid 15 when it is held in the inverted position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the bristle portion of the tooth brush dipped thereinto. While it is preferable to employ the dispensing top structure in the first mentioned manner or in the alternative way described, it is, of course, apparent that if desired the same may be used in the manner of the ordinary sifter top.

In the modified form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 5, the only difference resides in the use of a single side passage or slot i311 and in other respects, the dispensing top structure is identical with the first form of the invention described.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the dispensing top structure for the container body G is designated generally by the reference character H and, in this instance, the upper wall l6 of the neck I! is provided with an outlet opening I8. The means carried by the top structure for trapping a quantity of the contents, when the container is inverted and returned to upright position with a cover applied thereto, consists of a pivoted element H! which is fulcrumed at 20 to the neck structure and extends across the interior thereof with the free end engaging a stop 2 i. The opposite edges of the element l 9 are provided with recesses 22 which form passages communieating with the interior of the body of the container so that when an applicator is dipped into the trapped contents any excess of the contents or said upstanding neck being provided with an upper end wall having a portion in the middle thereof centrally depressed to form a substantially concave trough with a. ledge formation of the upper end wall at the side of the trough, the depressed trough formation being provided with a longitudinally extending slotted opening on the side below the ledge formation to present said formation as an inturned flange overhanging the top edge of the side of the concave trough and spaced therefrom, said opening serving to permit passage of powder from the body portion into the recessed trough and said opening and the overhanging flange portion functioning to permit return of excess powder and to prevent spillage from the trough during use.

2. A dispensing container for powder comprising, a body portion to contain loose powder, and a dispensing top structure associated with the body portion and provided with an upstanding neck substantially oblong in form in communication with the body portion, said upstanding neck being provided with an upper end wall and having this end wall provided with a concave centrally depressed trough located to leave ledge formations of the upper end wall on each side, said trough formation being provided with longitudinally extending slotted openings at each side below the ledge formations to leave these formations as inturned flanges overhanging the top edges of the sides of the concave trough and spaced therefrom.

3. A dispensing container for powder comprising, a body portion to contain powder, a dispensing top structure associated-with the body portion and provided with an upstanding neck, said upstanding neck being provided with an upper end wall having a portion in the middle thereof centrally depressed to form a substantially concave trough with a ledge formation of the upper end wall at the side of the trough, the depressed trough formation being provided with a longitudinally extending slotted opening on the side below the ledge formation to present said formation as an inturned flange overhanging the top edge of the side of the concave trough and spaced therefrom, and a cover to close over the top of said upstanding neck and in close contact with the ledge when the dispensing container is not in use.

V CHRISTINA A. S. FRANK. 

